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Strathbogie launches petition for power reliability project
New support fund for bushfire-affected councils
Monitor appointed to City of Perth
Whittlesea councillor resignation
Geelong region councils issue fire prevention notices
Stonnington’s new scaled fees for residential parking permits
Alpine Shire expands public EV charging network
New playground communication boards in Moyne Shire
Georges River cracks down on pool safety risk
Water restrictions extended in Narromine Shire
Canberra light rail fleet goes wire-free
VIC: Strathbogie Shire Council is urging residents to sign a petition supporting AusNet’s proposal to install an Express Feeder, which would improve power reliability for approximately 5000 customers served by the longest and most vulnerable single-line feeder in Victoria’s network.
The Australian Energy Regulator previously rejected the project based on cost-benefit analysis, but the council argues that reliable power is essential for community safety, business attraction, and quality of life, especially given recent multi-day outages during bushfire emergencies.
VIC: A Council Support Fund will provide almost $12 million to bushfire-affected councils to restore community assets like parks, sports facilities and community centres.
The fund, part of a range of recovery measures announced by the Commonwealth and Victorian governments, will be active for two years.
Councils will receive between $450,000 and $750,000 depending on the scale of impacts to support their recovery efforts and rebuild local infrastructure.
WA: Carol Adams, former Kwinana mayor and Perth Racing chair, has been appointed to monitor the City of Perth following a breakdown in relations between council members and city administration.
WA Today reported that Ms Adams has been appointed by new Local Government Inspector Tony Brown, who with powers to observe meetings and inspect documents.
The appointment comes after Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds requested a state government investigation into workplace culture at the city, amid an ongoing rift with chief executive Michelle Reynolds revealed in confidential documents.
VIC: Cr Nic Brooks has resigned from his position on Whittlesea City Council for personal reasons. The resignation is effective immediately.
Mr Brooks told The Age that the councillor workload, combined with running his business, was too much to manage.
A by-election will be conducted by the Victorian Electoral Commission to fill the vacancy, with dates to be confirmed.
VIC: The Geelong Advertiser reports that over 1,000 fire prevention notices have been issued to residents across the Geelong region in just over two months, requiring them to clear grass, debris, and combustible materials or face fines of approximately $2,035.
The notices come as Victoria faces a state of disaster with multiple fires, and authorities aim to protect communities by ensuring properties are maintained to reduce bushfire risk.
VIC: The City of Stonnington has introduced scaled fees for resident parking permits, aligning with neighbouring councils like Yarra, Port Phillip and Bayside. Discounted rates are available for concession card holders.
The change follows consultation last July.
VIC: Alpine Shire Council is expanding its public electric vehicle charging network and inviting community members to suggest suitable locations in Council-owned carparks and parking bays.
The feedback will be combined with commercial interest assessments to inform an Expression of Interest process for qualified parties to install, operate, and maintain new EV chargers in the Shire.
VIC: Moyne Shire Council has installed communication boards at five playgrounds to support non-verbal communication and make play spaces more inclusive for people of all abilities, including those with speech difficulties or language barriers.
The boards use symbols and words that users can point to, helping remove barriers to inclusion and ensuring everyone can participate in community spaces.
NSW: Georges River Council is enforcing pool safety laws to reduce drowning risks, urging residents to ensure their pool barriers are compliant with legislation, especially after a 27% increase in drowning deaths.
Non-compliant pool owners face prosecution, fines, and potential criminal records.
NSW: Narromine Shire Council has extended Level 2 Moderate Water Restrictions until mid-February.
It has thanked residents for their cooperation in managing water demand, which has stabilised, but ongoing high temperatures and dry conditions mean continued pressure on the water treatment system.
ACT: Canberra‘s light rail fleet is being upgraded with on-board energy storage systems (OESS) to enable wire-free travel.
Five vehicles have already been retrofitted and fourteen more being upgraded gradually.
The wire-free technology, which charges on wired track sections and uses regenerative braking, will allow vehicles to operate without overhead wires between Alinga Street and Commonwealth Park.